|
News, Analysis, and Opinion on Microsoft Digital Media Technologies (and TGB News!)
January 2009 - Posts
-
Microsoft appeared to have fixed one of the issues I was
having on the backend, but that fix has caused the entire site to come to its
knees with wonderful message like "Value cannot be null. Parameter name:
relativeUrl" when attempting to make a new post or reply. Unfortunantly,
since I don't have direct access to the server there is nothing I can
personally do about it.
Sadly since you can’t make a new post or reply, The Green
Button will effectively be down until Microsoft can fix the issue. Ian’s forums on The Digital
Lifestyle might be a good overflow forum until Microsoft fixes The Green
Button.
Update: Looks like some are having luck posting (I'm not one of them). Try signing out and then back in.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
The first sign of a business in trouble is when you must reinvent
yourself to stay alive. Microsoft
might
not actually be reinventing Media Center, mostly becasue you can't
reinvent something that you never actually defined a market for in the
first place, but they are finally attempting to delineate where they
see Media Center competing in such a growing marketplace (and that’s
not a
good thing for most reading this).
Media Center started as a method to watch TV on the PC. Essentially it was marketed to college
students to cut down the number of devices in their dorm. Then it grew up and Microsoft focused on getting
Media Center off the PC and onto the big screen. Media Center 2004-2005 and Extenders helped
drive this concept. Media Center was the
star of CES keynotes of the past focusing on the next-generation home. Much of this is outlined in the Evolution
of Windows Media Center that Microsoft just finished.
The video might have a few hidden messages that are hard to
catch, but I think they define Media Center’s future and show that
Microsoft has finally attempted to focus on a specific market.
(Microsoft presented this image at WinHEC)
“TV on your PC” is
Microsoft’s new marketing talk for what Media Center is and does (hear
it from Media Center marketing PM Ben Reed here ~30 seconds in) . Not whole home connected entertainment, not
Media Center in your living room, not Extenders, not high-end theaters, but “TV
on your PC.” In other words, the days of
Media Center being billed as the do-it-all center of your home are over (except
for the custom market).
For the first time, Media Center officially has a market,
and while that is good news that Microsoft has finally defined who they are
developing for, it is bad news for most reading this post as you can now be
sure Media Center will never be the platform you have dreamed of.
Thinking about it, the signs have been developing over the
past months. The lack
of Media Center at CES keynote makes perfect sense if it is being billed as
just a way to watch TV on your PC. No
need to make a big deal about that. Microsoft
touting touch screen support in Windows 7 half has to do with them putting way
to much emphasis on touch in Windows 7 in general, but also helps them show off
using a kitchen PC for watching TV on.
Why exactly do I need this in a product that is meant to be controlled
with a remote? This was recently questioned on The
Green Button and Engadget
HD’s most recent podcast. Mouse
clickable seekbar in Windows 7, yet again a sign of Media Center moving onto
the desktop and away from the TV.
I think Microsoft will continue to focus on the CEDIA
channel as well, which most likely means my fears of Microsoft developing new
cool features that are only available to OEMs is going to come true. Niveus Media and Exceptional Innovation (Life|ware)
will likely see the majority of the attention.
Smaller Media Center OEMs will start to fade away after being ignored by
Microsoft who hasn’t grasped the concept that all of the smaller OEMs serve the
exact same high-end customers as Niveus and Life|ware (examples include support
for 10
Extenders, 8 CableCARD tuners for only Niveus/Life|ware). I think we will see Microsoft heavily market
an appliances-like
device to these OEMs (unclear if the functionality will be avaiable to the
masses, but I don’t see it marketed to them).
If there is a plus side (hard to think of it as
that) to this it would be in the form of much lower expectations. Hopefully
I’m wrong, but this change could end Media Center as we know (or think we know)
it today.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
I shouldn’t actually call it a fight because that implies
one actually gave effort, but CES 2009 has shown that Microsoft is effectively
out of the race to provide a platform for streaming and downloadable content
via the PC. I say via the PC because the Xbox is still alive and actually
putting up somewhat of a fight.
With every major display company now pushing integrated
online content embedded or easily attachable to their displays the PC is now becoming
irrelevant. No longer is the concept PC-to-TV, it is Web-to-TV and
Microsoft fails to offer compelling products that work under this
infrastructure.
Media Center had strong potential to rule the online
world. In 2002 when Microsoft introduced Media Center the Online
Spotlight provided a mechanism for content providers to offer 10-foot versions
of their streaming services. As time went on however Microsoft had a
difficult time keeping content providers interested with big names like MTV
Network pulling content for reasons unknown to anyone but Microsoft.
In late 2007 Microsoft offered up their Internet
TV plug-in which scrapped content from their MSN properties. Then in
early 2008 Internet TV got an upgrade that introduced
interactive ads, a feature that I thought would give Microsoft a leg up in
streaming Alas, Microsoft has failed to secure any additional web
content. Even Netflix, which is on the Xbox 360 didn’t get ported to Media
Center (while unofficial plug-ins fill the gap for users). Windows 7 hits
hard on integration
of broadcast and broadband, but that only goes as far as the content you
have to offer.
My advice to Microsoft, buy boxee
and integrate it into Media Center, Xbox 360, and Zune. Unless you have
some big partnerships in the works (CES would have been a good place to unveil
those), your platform is effectively dead for online content delivery (broadcast
isn’t looking that hot either).
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
I’ve talk about Microsoft and Blu-ray more
times than I can count and it never fails I end up saying they will not be
the ones to build Blu-ray support in Windows.
My thoughts have officially come true with yesterday’s announcement that
Microsoft is outsourcing Blu-ray
support in Windows 7 to Cyberlink.
According to the press release, PowerDVD “automatically
integrate with Windows Media Center to enable full Blu-ray playback capability
on PC equipped with the appropriate hardware.”
The extent of that integration remains to be seen, but I’m hoping for
full integration using Media Foundation and PVP (aka real integration). That's a lot of wishful thinking on my part, what we will likely end up with is Media
Center launching PowerDVD in a Play Movie-esk way.
I guess this is a good start and I’m interested to see what the
product will look like but I’m not getting my hopes up too high just yet for it being the perfect solution.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
Microsoft might not have hit on it in their Media
Center-less keynote, but there is one big change getting ready to happen. Well over a year after it was first spotted, Ceton
is out with the news that they will be shipping an MOCUR in 2009 (Via Media
Center Blog).
There are a few things that are unique to the Ceton MOCUR
over the current ATI OCUR. The first and
most noticeable is the ability to use a single M-Card and tune at up 6
channels. While most people know that
M-Cards can offer multiple streams, not many know they actually can be well
above two. Using a single M-Card and a
Ceton MCOUR with add-on tuners you will be able to record up to six shows at
once.
While you will still need a CableCARD Ready PC (sorry, no
home built) this tuner will be a welcome change from ATIs. Ceton will hopefully stay a-top their
firmware releases and ship the tuners with that relaxed
DRM support that ATI hasn’t bothered to get around to yet.
Sadly, this isn’t a BOCR (tru2way). CableLabs has
still not finished the specs for two-way CableCARD tuners for the PC. While not noted in the press release, Ceton
will hopefully
be providing support for SDV Adaptors which CableLabs has said will work
with OCURs but that a timeline for support has not been made public. If SDV support isnt planned on, this tuner
will be dead in the water. I’ve got to
believe that Ceton wouldn’t release the tuner at this stage without ensuring
SDV support.
Big hat tip to
the Media Center Blog
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
(Via Media
Center Blog) LAS VEGAS, NV --
01/08/09 -- Ceton Corp., a Seattle-area technology company, today announced
the development of the next-generation Ceton cable TV card for Windows Media
Center-enabled PCs. PCs incorporating the Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card
will be able to natively support high-definition pay TV including premium cable
TV channels, without the need for a separate cable set-top box, including
playing or recording up to six simultaneous high-definition TV channels using a
single multi-stream CableCARD(TM) and single RF connection.
The Ceton solution also enables standard- and
high-definition cable programming to be securely distributed from a Media
Center PC to multiple TVs throughout the home via Media Center Extenders while
preserving the encryption and digital rights of the content. The Ceton
Multi-Channel Cable TV Card was developed using Microsoft Corp.'s broadcast TV
platform capabilities in Windows Media Center and conforms to the CableLabs®
OpenCable(TM) OCUR and DRI specifications.
"PCs running Windows Media Center are a great platform
for enabling a wide variety of really useful whole-home entertainment
options," said Gary Hammer, president and CEO of Ceton Corp. "The
Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card for Windows Media Center-enabled PCs not only
brings pay TV functionality of the set-top box inside the PC in an
easy-to-set-up and very cost-effective way but it also enables unique
capabilities such as whole-home distribution of premium HD TV content with up
to six tuner support with a single multi-stream CableCARD."
"Microsoft is pleased to see Ceton deliver this new
hardware solution built on the robust capabilities of Windows Media Center and
its broadcast TV platform," said Geoff Robertson, General Manager of
Windows Media Center for Microsoft. "Ceton's digital cable tuner will
bring multi-stream pay TV services to Windows Media Center-enabled PCs and
multiple connected Media Center Extenders."
The Ceton Multi-Channel Cable TV Card for Windows Media
Center-enabled PCs is expected to be available bundled with Windows Media
Center-enabled PCs from leading manufacturers in 2009.
About Ceton
Corporation
Ceton Corporation is a Seattle-area technology company that
is developing the next-generation of in-home digital entertainment and
communication solutions. Combining stellar hardware and software engineering
capabilities with market-making, patent-pending technology, Ceton aims to help
unlock the potential of the digital home to unleash a new generation of in-home
connected entertainment and communication services for PC and device makers,
software developers and consumers. More information about Ceton and its
solutions is available at http://www.cetoncorp.com.
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
TAIPEI, Taiwan - CyberLink Corporation is pleased to announce that
PowerDVD will be utilized by Microsoft Corp. in a demonstration of their newest
version of Windows Media Center, for Windows 7. This demo will be shown in the
Microsoft booth (7144), in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Additional demonstrations of the forthcoming version of PowerDVD will be
available to PC and Consumer Electronic manufacturers and members of the press
by appointment, in CyberLink’s private suite in the Hilton Hotel.
CyberLink has been working closely with Microsoft to support
many of the advanced capabilities of Windows 7. PowerDVD Cinema mode has been
designed to automatically integrate with Windows Media Center to enable full
Blu-ray playback capability on PC equipped with the appropriate hardware.
PowerDVD Cinema mode integrates seamlessly with the advanced user experience
that Windows Media Center provides and allows consumers to be able to use a
remote control to select and watch Blu-ray titles from the comfort of their
couch. PowerDVD also provide a great user experience when launched directly
from Windows, with new and exciting ways for everyone to browse and enjoy
movies and video files on any Windows desktop or laptop PC.
TrueTheater™ HD, one of the new video technology CyberLink
will demonstrate in PowerDVD, provides the capability to up-sample videos and
transform standard definition video files, or DVD titles into high-definition
quality. This would allow users to enjoy DVDs today in high definition quality.
“We are proud that PowerDVD is Microsoft’s choice to support
Blu-ray Disc playback for Windows 7,” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink.
“PowerDVD is the leading DVD, Blu-ray Disc and AVCHD movie player software
application, chosen by top-brand PCs and optical disc drives purchased by
consumers and businesses around the world. We are excited to demonstrate the
smooth integration and the incredible sights and sounds of Blu-ray disc movies
for Windows 7 at the coming CES.”
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
VidaBox Releases New
vPad8, an Enhanced Ultra-Mobile Tablet Designed for Automation
VidaBox LLC, a manufacturer of digital entertainment and
control solutions, is proud to present the vPad8™, a thin and light
ultra-mobile tablet PC. Running on
Windows XP embedded, it features a full-color touch screen with 800x600
resolution and comes standard with WiFi connectivity, making it an ideal
control interface device.
"We're excited to release the new vPad8™ panel,"
exclaims Steven Cheung, President of VidaBox. "This is a smaller, less
bulky version of our original vPad10™.
We've also added some improvements like a brighter screen for easier
legibility in direct light, and optional protective rubber bumpers, making it
extremely durable."
Read
Full Press Release
New VidaBox Touch3.6
Touch Pad Provides Truly Customizable Controls
VidaBox, a manufacturer of digital entertainment and control
solutions, is proud to debut the Touch3.6™, a full-color touchpad capable of
presenting an interactive, fully-customizable interface. This 320x234 resolution screen will allow
control of any device via RS-232, TCP/IP, IR, and other control protocols
through the vAutomation™ platform.
"We're absolutely thrilled to offer our dealers the new
Touch3.6 panel," exclaims Steven Cheung, President of VidaBox LLC.
"Integrators can finally install a double-gang sized panel to control
anything in the house - lighting, security, climate, shades, whole house AV, and
more. This is all possible because of
vAutomation's support for customizable interfaces."
Read
Full Press Release
VidaBox Now Offers
Pre-packaged Whole House Audio Solutions with Multi-room Distribution Systems
VidaBox LLC, a manufacturer of digital entertainment and
control solutions, is proud to offer complete whole house audio packages. Based on the VidaBox line of multiroom audio
servers, these packages include NuVo® multiroom distribution and amplification
equipment.
"These new packages are a natural progression of
delivering new features and better value for our dealer base," states
Steven Cheung, President of VidaBox LLC. "Most of our integrators are
already using NuVo® and Russound® in their multiroom audio installs. However, many of them shy away from adding a
VidaBox audio server into the mix because of the learning curve, even if it
means having new features like internet radio, sleep/wake functions, or whole
house audio control from a single TouchClient™ or vPad™ touch panel. By marrying the two as a complete solution,
dealers can get a single package that eliminates setup and installation
headaches, since VidaBox takes care of all of the configuration work at the
factory."
Read
Full Press Release
VidaBox Releases new
TouchClient8 In-wall PC Touch Panel
VidaBox LLC, a manufacturer of digital entertainment and
control solutions, is excited to announce the availability of the
TouchClient8™, a full-color, 8.4" in-wall touch panel with an XP embedded
computer.
"From the first day of offering the TouchClient12™, we
kept getting asked, 'Do you have a smaller version?'" says Steven Cheung, President
of VidaBox LLC. "As always, we listen intently to our integrators, and
created this new, smaller version called TouchClient8™. It has the same great features &
connectivity options of the original design without any sacrifices, just with a
smaller, 800x600 native resolution touch screen."
Like its larger cousin, the TouchClient8™ runs on XP
embedded, and has stereo speakers, dual USB, dual Ethernet, and dual RS-232
ports - allowing the possibility of local automation directly from the
TouchClient8™. It only requires a 12V
power source & a network connection, or a WiFi network using its built-in
802.11b/g wireless card. There are no
moving parts like fans or hard drives, allowing every TouchClient8™ to enjoy
long life and high-reliability.
Read
Full Press Release
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
Mediaroom-based services can now add Mediaroom Anytime,
enabling TV viewers to enjoy previously aired programs or restart currently
airing shows without preplanning or prior DVR recording; new immersive
applications complement the Mediaroom TV experience with content and services
from the Internet.
LAS VEGAS — Jan. 8, 2009 — At 2009 International CES today,
Microsoft Corp. unveiled Mediaroom Anytime, a groundbreaking feature set for
the Microsoft Mediaroom multimedia and IPTV platform that allows viewers to truly
watch TV on their own time. In addition to existing Mediaroom features, such as
video on demand, DVR Anywhere and Remote Digital Video Recording, the new
Mediaroom Anytime features take time-shifted TV to the next level, enabling
viewers to access previously aired shows directly from the Interactive Program
Guide or immediately restart currently airing shows without any preplanning or
prior DVR recording. In addition, Microsoft announced that the Mediaroom
platform has reached nearly 2.5 million subscriber homes worldwide, an increase
of more than 1.5 million new connections in the past year alone.
With the new Mediaroom Anytime feature set, service
providers now have the ability to offer their customers the following benefits:
- Restart Anytime offers the ability for viewers to rewind or
restart the currently airing program from any point, regardless of whether the
show is being recorded or the TV was switched off or tuned to another channel.
- Live Anytime allows viewers to scroll backward in the Interactive
Program Guide to watch previously aired programs. These previously aired
programs also can be made accessible through the service provider’s video on
demand library.
- Download Anytime extends Microsoft Mediaroom-powered
services to more consumers by enabling viewers to download on-demand movies and
programs to their set-top boxes so they can watch them anytime regardless of
bandwidth constraints. For example, viewers could watch high-definition
programs on low-bandwidth networks.
SingTel plans to trial Mediaroom Anytime features — Restart
Anytime and Live Anytime — and aims to offer the service to its mio TV
subscribers in 2009. Mediaroom Anytime functionalities can be added to
SingTel’s existing Microsoft Mediaroom-powered connected TV service offerings
via a simple software upgrade that requires no action by existing subscribers.
“mio TV aims to be at the forefront of new innovations and
services that will let our customers control what they watch, when they want,”
said Low Ka Hoe, SingTel’s director of IPTV Business. “The ever-evolving
Mediaroom platform and the new Anytime features allow us to continue delivering
enhanced value and a truly immersive TV viewing experience to our customers.”
Read
Full Press Release
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
Windows Media Center was talked about in the CES keynote,
but despite the several mentions of bringing the “three different screens” together,
Media Center is still lacking in Microsoft’s digital home vision. Windows Media Center has really reduced to
this PR statement…
“Consumers today have access to more digital media and are
increasingly using the PC as the hub of their electronic experiences. The
“Play-to” feature in Windows 7 allows easier streaming of music, video and
photos to devices in a home network. Windows Media Player and Windows Media
Center in Windows 7 have built-in support for more media formats so people can
use their PC to play more media content and sync it to a broader range of
devices. As an alternative to monthly digital video recording (DVR) fees,
Windows Media Center, available in some editions of Windows 7, with a TV tuner
and improved user interface, makes recording TV free and easy.”
“Connected TV” was covered with a focus on Mediaroom
reaching 2.5 million homes. This is the second
year in a row that Media Center, Microsoft’s former baby has been a no-show
at the CES Keynote. No
Media Center on Microsoft.com, no Media Center at CES keynote. The
Xbox 360 is still the Media Center’s biggest enemy.
What
happened to the Digital Decade?
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
Media Center
- 10 million Media Center users a month
- Average Media Center session time is ~90 minutes
Xbox 360
- Xbox LIVE membership that has grown to 17 million active
members.
- Xbox 360 has sold 28 million consoles sold to date
- More than $1 billion spent on Xbox LIVE since the launch of
the Xbox 360
- Xbox 360 has largest game attach rate
- Xbox LIVE Primetime channel brings together the best of TV and
gaming in an interactive way.
- Primetime will create scheduled programming, offer interactive and social features.
- Average Halo player playing 150 hours on Xbox LIVE
- Two new Halo titles this year. Feb 28th release for Halo Wars. Halo 3 ODST in 2009.
- Since NXE launch, downloads of video content up 60%
- Over 45 movie/TV studios providing content on Xbox LIVE
- Over 60 millions song downloads on Lips and other music games.
Mediaroom
- Mediaroom platform has reached nearly 2.5 million subscriber
homes worldwide (250% growth over last year)
- Mediaroom Anytime lets you watch previously aired content
- Mediaroom adds interactive third-party application support (BBC Top Gear as an example)
Windows Mobile
- Windows Mobile is getting new Internet Explorer with Adobe Flash support
- Lots of new phones shown
- Microsoft/Netflix will offer software that enables Windows Mobile
customers to update and view their Netflix movie queue.
Windows 7
- Windows 7 is up on MSDN/TechNet. Public beta on Microsoft.com on Jan. 9
Other
- Ford Sync will get updated with TellMe support
- Zune Social is up to 2 million users
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
Developing….
“new interactive entertainment genre with the premiere of
the Xbox LIVE Primetime channel, which brings together the best of TV and
gaming. Xbox LIVE Primetime will debut with an online version of the popular TV
show “1 vs. 100” that enables thousands of gamers to play together with real
hosts and compete for real prizes."
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
Developing...
"This month, Microsoft and Netflix, the world’s largest online movie
rental service, will offer software that enables Windows Mobile
customers to update and view their Netflix movie queue. Changes will
appear instantly on Netflix on Xbox LIVE, extending the existing
service that launched in November. Xbox 360 is the only game system
that lets people instantly watch thousands of movies and TV episodes
streamed from Netflix, many in HD."
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
Company previews
simpler, better Windows operating system and highlights connected entertainment
offerings at CES.
LAS VEGAS — Jan. 7,
2009 — In a keynote address at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics
Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced the
beta availability of the Windows 7 operating system as well as the availability
of the latest version of the Windows Live, a suite of personal communications
services and applications.
“I’m thrilled to announce the availability of the Windows 7
beta, which is on track to deliver simplicity and reliability,” Ballmer said.
“Windows 7 and Windows Live are part of an incredible pipeline of consumer
technology that is making it easier than ever for people to communicate, share
and get more done.”
The beta version of Windows 7, Microsoft’s next-generation
PC operating system, can be downloaded today by MSDN, TechBeta and TechNet
customers. Consumers who want to test-drive the beta will be able to download
it beginning Jan. 9 at http://www.microsoft.com/windows7.
Microsoft also announced the global availability of Windows
Live, a free suite of communications and sharing applications. Windows Live
makes it easy for people to communicate, share and keep their online lives in
sync and in one place with one login. The new and enhanced Windows Live
services — including PCMag.com 2008 Editors’ Choice winner Windows Live
Messenger — along with Windows Live Mail and Windows Live Photo Gallery are
designed to work seamlessly with more than 50 popular Internet services.
Ballmer also announced new alliances with the following companies:
Dell Inc. In February, to offer a comprehensive experience
for consumers to connect, share and personalize their content, Dell will offer
preloaded Windows Live Essentials (a free suite of applications for instant
messaging, e-mail and photos that complement Windows Live on the Web) and Live
Search on a majority of its new consumer and small-business PCs globally.
Facebook. In the coming months, Facebook users can choose to
share content they post on Facebook, including photos, directly into Windows
Live.
Verizon Wireless. Under a new five-year relationship that
covers mobile search and advertising, Verizon subscribers in the U.S. will be
able to use Live Search to search for local business and shopping information;
access maps and directions; perform general Internet searches; and find ring
tones, games, wallpaper and other online mobile products and services.
Read
Full Press Release
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
-
At CES 2009, Microsoft
announced advances in Windows 7 beta, Windows Mobile, Windows Live – all
designed to help consumers connect and live a ‘life without walls.’
LAS VEGAS – Jan. 7,
2009 - At the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft is
shining a spotlight on something besides the biggest LCD screen or the coolest
new tech gadgets: It’s showing consumers how Windows can make their lives
easier, more productive, more enjoyable.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer opened the show with news that a
beta version of Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest operating system, will be widely
available for download on Jan. 9. He also announced the final availability of
Windows Live – free software and services designed to bring a person’s online
world under one roof and help them keep their life in synch.
Along with a new version Internet Explorer Mobile that helps
today’s mobile phones connect to the Web in a more powerful way, these
announcements underscore Microsoft’s efforts to design software that connects
the PC, the web, the phone and even the television in a way that is easy to use
and fun. It’s all part of Microsoft’s technology vision to deliver a “life
without walls” for consumers.
Says Bill Veghte, senior vice president of the Windows
business group at Microsoft: “We are excited to have the strongest pipeline of
new technology for Windows in our company’s history. We really listened to what
our customers want. And we think what we’re showing at CES gives consumers
choices and experiences they haven’t had before.”
Windows 7: Available in Beta Today
With Windows 7, first shown at the D: All Things Digital
Conference his past May, Microsoft is confident it has an operating system that
reflects what customers want. Windows 7 designers have surveyed more than a
quarter of a million people to learn more about how they use a computer and
digital devices. The Windows Research Team also conducted thousands of online
interviews, and enlisted 3,600 customers for user research and usability
studies.
One thing they learned was that while people enjoy the
convenience and features of the many digital devices they have these days –
from cameras to music players – they also want it to be easier to use their
devices with their PCs, to do everyday tasks such as moving pictures from a
camera to multiple PCs, or sharing music, or printing to a network.
Read
Full Press Release
Cross Posted from Chris Lanier's Blog at http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/
|
More Posts Next page »
|
|
|